Tyehimba Jess, an Associate Professor in the Department of English, was recently named a Lannan Literary Award recipient for 2016.
Jess is the author of Leadbelly, a winner in the 2004 National Poetry Series. The Library Journal and Black Issues Book Review both named it one of the “Best Poetry Books of 2005.” His other work, Olio, published in 2016, has been called “Encyclopedic, ingenious, and abundant…” in Publisher’s Weekly‘s starred review, and was selected as one of the five best poetry books of 2016.
Jess has been at CSI for seven years and is currently on sabbatical in Chicago for the year, returning in fall 2017.
“Professor Jess is a poet of emotional depth and range. The College community applauds this national recognition. CSI students are fortunate to learn the craft of poetry in his classes and from his books and readings,” noted Nan M. Sussman, PhD, Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences.
The Lannan Literary Awards and Fellowships were established in 1989 to honor both established and emerging writers whose work is of exceptional quality. The awards recognize writers who have made significant contributions to English-language literature.
To view the full list of winners, visit the Lannan Website.
